The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-29
BOLD LAND PIRATES
OF THE WILD WESTERN PRAIRIE.
They Stop Train aud Bulldozo tho Eugi.
neor Into Giving up the Engine-Tho
Exprsss and Mall Car Robbed OF
About Five. Thousand Dollars.

SAN FRANCISCO, April ?s.-One OF tn,
most audaclous, desperate and succeeefu
train robberies that was ever recorded
occurred on the west bound overland
train on the Southern Pacific railroad neal
Tucson, Arizona.
A special dispatch to the Evening BuR
estn this afternoon from Tucson gives de,
tails OF the affair as follows: The western
bound express due here at 1886
last evening was stopped and robbed
at Pantage station, eighteen miles eas,
Of here about $3.50 last evening. The
number Of men engaged in tho robbery Il
variously estimated at from five to eight
Colonel Harper, the engineer, when ap.
proaching Pantage, side station, was
sIgnalledby red lantern to stop. He slowed
down and as he approached the light be
noticed distractions on the track 90 placed
that in case he failed to stop, the, engine
would spread the track and derail
itself. Immediately on STOPPING
a dozen or more shots were
fired into the expreas car, aud a man with
a pistol in each hand boarded the locomo.
tive and commanded Harper not 10 Get
down. The other robbers had in thp
meantime been prying open the expreas
car, and failing TO get il open, they. placed
a eiick nj piant M nudar rnJ,s; :. ~ "
PEELED Harper TO light the fuse attached,
This he was obliged TO do, but to avoid
being blown up the messenger opened the
car, aud tho robbers took possession,
After extinguishing the fuse they then
took charge OF the car, uncoupled the en-.
gine, baggage and express car from the re-
mainder OF tho train, and made Harper
get on the engine and pull ahead two
lengths. This being done, Harper was
again put OF, and the robbers took charge
OF the engine and pulled out six miles, to.
ward Tucson. Here they killed the en-.
gine and left it.
Durlngther the robbers went through
the mail and expreas cars, but did ppt rst
more than 5000. They got two packages
Of railroad money, one Of Sl,2lO and one
Of $ooo, and also two packages Of postage
stampB going to the postotlice at San Fran.
cisco. 1t is reported that the expreee
messenger threw $500 in gold in.
to q Gtove and 90 saved II
from the robbers. Nothing was known
here Of theI affair until past midnight.
when telegram Was received from Pan.
tage, a brakeman having walked back
eight miles to. that place. A special wss
sent down and the train brough, in at 6
this morning. None of the passengers
were molested. None of the pgssenve1p
knew anything OF the trouble until after
their arrival here.
Under Sheriff Shibell was early at the
scene OF trouble but could discover moth.
ing that would lead to the identity OF the
robbers. Ten trailers under Deputy sher.
1T NJ. F. Shaw have LETT for the scene Of
trouble. The robbers are believed to be
discharged railroad employees. Although
they compelled engineer Harper to chow
them how 10 handle the locomotive, it ia
believed by their actions in handling the
train that they were familiar with such
work,
Immediately upon the receipt Of the
news at the office OF the Southern Pacific
Company in this city, Mr.. a. NJ. Town,
General Manager, Issued the following cir.
cular, with order. to the companys agents
to post in conspicuous places:
Tine mail and express cars on our west.
pound express train, when at point Bev-
enteen miles Of Tucson, Arizona Terri.
tory, at 10 o'clock last night, was stopped
and robbed by four or five men. The
Southern Pacific Railroad Company
hereby oilers a reward OF ST.
OOO each for the arrest and
conviction OF the robbers. which
is in addition to like reward offered by
Wells, Fargo & Company's Express, In
addition to this We understand the United
States Postal Department has a standing
reward ol 5000 ior each arrest and con.
vlctio1 oil persons who engage in robbing
mails"
From information received by him.
General Manager Town said this afternoon
IN reference 10 The affair: "7here were
five shots fired from the band OF robbers
into the express car alter the train WAS
brought to stop. When the train came
to standstill the engineer and
fireman wers ordered 10 yet on
the engine, which they did,
Then they were each given a stick
OF giant powder and told that they must
compel the mail sxents and express mes-
senge,s to open the car or the robbers
would with revolver compel them 10 light
the dynamite to destroy the CATS. Under
thege' threats the express messenger and
mail agents abandoned their car,